| Customer | Cambridge Canoe Club |
| Sector | Sports Club |
| Building Usage | Canoe and boat storage |
| Location | Cambridge |
| Architect/Project | Midbrook Design Team |
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Project Overview: Steel Building for a Community Sports Club
When Cambridge Canoe Club first opened in 1981, the original clubhouse was little more than a shell – with no electricity, water, racking or internal fit-out. Over the last 40 years, the club has steadily developed the site to include electricity, hot showers, toilets and extensive boat racking, becoming a thriving hub for the local paddling community in Cambridge and surrounding areas.
However, with membership growing and the clubhouse completely full, the club had reached capacity for boat storage and urgently needed to expand.
The Challenge: Expanding Boat Storage for a Growing Canoe Club
Like many community sports clubs, Cambridge Canoe Club had been exploring expansion options for several years. High costs associated with alternative storage solutions, combined with a lengthy two-year wait for planning permission, meant progress was slow.
Initially, the club considered shipping containers as a storage solution. However, after researching alternatives, they discovered that a steel building offered a far more practical, long-term and cost-effective option – both in terms of capacity and appearance.
The Solution: A Bespoke Steel Storage Building
Midbrook Steel Buildings delivered a custom-designed steel storage building that not only met the club’s storage needs but also complemented the existing clubhouse and riverside setting.
The club was delighted with the end result – describing the finished building as “miles better than containers” and perfectly suited to their requirements.
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- The canoe club on a bright, crisp day by the water
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- The canoe club glowing in the evening light
Steel Building Design & Aesthetic Integration
Blending Modern Steel Construction with Traditional Materials
One of the standout features of this project is how the steel-framed building has been designed to visually tie in with the existing clubhouse:
- Black overlapped timber cladding externally
- Terracotta-coloured roof to match surrounding buildings
The timber cladding continues down onto the raft slab, with grilles allowing water to pass underneath – a key consideration for the site.
Flood-Resilient Steel Building Design
Given its location on the banks of the River Cam, the building was designed with flooding in mind:
- Sloped concrete floor to prevent water pooling inside
- External grilles allowing floodwater to pass beneath the building
- Slight fall in foundations to allow natural drainage
- Concrete ramp providing safe and easy access while accommodating changes in ground level
This thoughtful design ensures the building remains functional and resilient, even during high water levels.
Steel Building Capacity & Functionality
The new steel storage building provides significantly increased capacity, with space to store approximately 200–220 boats, allowing the club to support future growth without compromise.
Steel Building Specification
Dimensions
- Total Width: 7.5 m
- Total Length: 12.2 m
- Eaves Height: 3.1 m
- Ridge Height: 5.75 m
- Roof Type: Dual pitched
- Roof Pitch: 30°
- Number of Bays: 2
Wall, Roof & Cladding System
- Roof: CR32 single skin 0.7mm with anti-condensation fleece
- Roof Colour: Terracotta
- Walls: CW32 single skin 0.5mm
- Wall Colour: Black (timber-clad externally)
Foundations & Groundworks
- 175mm above-ground concrete slab
- 300mm sub-base over geotextile membrane
- Slight slope for natural drainage
- Concrete access ramp approximately 14m long x 1.5m deep
A Steel Building Set in a Unique Cambridge Location
The Cambridge Canoe Club sits in a stunning riverside location along the River Cam, surrounded by green meadows and scenic footpaths. During our final site visit, two unexpectedly friendly swans wandered over, while runners, cyclists and dog walkers passed by, enjoying the tranquil surroundings.
It’s a peaceful setting – and one that makes this steel building a great example of how modern construction can sit comfortably within a natural environment.
Client Feedback: A Positive Experience from Start to Finish
Greg from Cambridge Canoe Club had nothing but positive feedback for the Midbrook team. He spoke highly of everyone involved – from the groundworks team to the steel erectors – and built a particularly strong relationship with our Director, Robyn, who was the club’s first point of contact throughout the project.
Steel Buildings for Community & Sports Clubs in the UK
This project is a great example of how steel buildings can provide practical, attractive and long-lasting solutions for community organisations, sports clubs and clubhouses across the UK.
Whether you need storage for boats, sports equipment, or a flexible community space, a steel building offers excellent value and adaptability.
If you’re looking for a steel building for community, sports, business or agricultural use, price up your project today:
https://www.midbrooksteelbuildings.co.uk/quote/
